Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Michael Stich (born 18 October 1968 in Pinneberg,
Germany) is a former professional tennis player
from Germany. 

Stich won his first professional singles title in
1990. The highlight of his career came just a year
later in 1991 at Wimbledon
Championships|Wimbledon. He shocked the tennis
world first in the semi-finals, where he defeated
the defending champion and World No. 1 Stefan
Edberg 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6. Then in the final he
went on to beat his compatriot and three-time
former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in straight
sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.

1992 saw Stich enjoy notable success in doubles
play. He teamed up with John McEnroe to win the
men's doubles title at Wimbledon in an epic
five-set and five-hour final which stretched into
Monday, the day after the tournament normally
ends, and ended with a 19-17 final set. And then
at the summer's 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games
in Barcelona, Stich teamed up with Becker to win
the men's doubles Gold Medal for Germany. Stich
also won the 1992 Grand Slam Cup, defeating
Michael Chang in straight sets in the final.

A major highlight of 1993 for Stich came at the
end-of-year Tennis Masters Cup|ATP World
Championships, where he defeated Pete Sampras in a
stunning five-set final to claim the title.
Playing for Germany, Stich also won both the Davis
Cup and the Hopman Cup in 1993.

Stich reached his second Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand
Slam final at the 1994 US Open (tennis)|US Open,
where he lost in straight sets to Andre Agassi
6-1, 7-6, 7-5. Stich's impressive run of success
playing for Germany continued in 1994, when he was
part of the German team which won the World Team
Cup.

Stich's third and final Grand Slam final
appearance came in 1996, when he was defeated in
tight final at the French Open by Yevgeny
Kafelnikov 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.

Stich's talent and all-round ability, mastering
serve-and-volley as well as baseline play,
especially with his one-handed backhand, allowed
him to become one of the few players to win
tournaments on all surfaces. In his career, he won
18 singles titles and 10 doubles titles. His
highest singles ranking was World No. 2 in 1993.

Stich retired from the professional tour in 1997.
Since his retirement, he has devoted most of his
time to his own AIDS foundation. Stich was married
to the German actress Jessica Stockmann
(1992-2003). In 2005 he married Alexandra
Rikowski.


==Grand Slam singles finals==

===Wins (1)===
 Year     Championship            Opponent in
Final          Score in Final
 1991     Wimbledon               Boris Becker    
          6-4, 7-6, 6-4 

===Runner-ups (2)===
 Year     Championship            Opponent in
Final          Score in Final
 1994     US Open                 Andre Agassi    
          6-1, 7-6, 7-5
 1996     French Open             Yevgeny
Kafelnikov         7-6, 7-5, 7-6